WASHINGTON –Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) released the following statement on the announcement of the closure of Pixelle Paper Mill in Chillicothe, Ohio.
“I’m devastated for Chillicothe. For over 200 years, this community has been built around this paper mill, allowing generations of Ohio workers to thrive and sustain their families,” said Sen. Moreno. “But decades of globalization have left workers like this behind, shipping their jobs overseas for cheap labor, and, for too long, Republicans have forgotten who we were sent to Washington to represent. We must defend these workers and their way of life. When I was elected, I made a promise to always put Ohio first in DC and I will never stop fighting for communities like Chillicothe.
Senator Moreno Has Been A Leader In The Fight For Chillicothe Workers:
- Two days after the announcement of the planned closure of the Chillicothe Paper Mill, Senator Moreno sent a letter to HIG Capital and called for the closure to be delayed.
- On Friday April 18, Senator Moreno held a press conference and convened state and local leaders in Chillicothe. On the same day, HIG informed Senator Moreno that they would delay the closing of the paper mill until the end of the year to give time to federal, state and local leaders to find a potential buyer for the paper mill.
- Senator Moreno fought to ensure the community maintained control over the future of the property.
- Senator Moreno worked daily with federal, state, and local leaders, including Governor DeWine, Senator Husted, and Congressman Taylor, to identify potential buyers, facilitating numerous tours.
- Senator Moreno met Saturday with local union leaders to discuss new WARN notice and next steps to ensure that impacted workers and families have the resources that they need.